THE STORY OF THE ELEPHANTS 275 



distant and desert regions, and found the Mammoth still in 

 the same place, but sadly mutilated. The people of the neigh- 

 bourhood had cut off the flesh, and fed their dogs with it during 

 the scarcity. Wild beasts, such as white bears, wolves, and 

 foxes, also had fed on it, and the traces of their footsteps were 

 seen around. The skeleton was complete all except one leg, but 

 the flesh had almost all gone. The head was covered with a dry 

 skin, one of the ears was seen to be covered with a tuft of hairs. 

 All these parts suffered more or less injury in transport for a 

 distance of 7330 miles to St. Petersburg, yet the eyes have been 

 preserved. This Mammoth was a male, with a long mane on 

 its neck, but both tail and proboscis had disappeared. The skin 

 is of a dark grey colour, covered with a reddish wool and black 

 hairs. The entire carcase was nine feet four inches high. The 

 skin of the side on which the carcase had lain was detached 

 by Mr. Adams, for it was well preserved, but so heavy was 

 it that ten persons found great difficulty in transporting it to 

 the shore. The white bears, while devouring the flesh, had 

 trodden into the ground much of the hair belonging to the 

 carcase, but Mr. Adams was able by digging to procure about 

 sixty pounds' weight of hair. In a few days the work was 

 completed, and he found himself in possession of a treasure 

 which amply compensated him for the fatigues and dangers of 

 the journey as well as the expense of the enterprise. When 

 first seen, this Mammoth was embedded in clear pure ice, which 

 forms in that coast escarpments of considerable thickness, sloping 

 towards the sea, the top of which is covered with moss and 

 earth. If the account of the Tungusians can be trusted, the 

 carcase was some way below the surface of the ice when first 

 seen. Arrived at Takutsk, Mr. Adams purchased a pair of tusks 

 which he believed to belong to this Mammoth, but there is 



